Reports, Models, Visualizations, Folders

Reports

A report can be used to monitor or present your progress. Running a report will allow you to view the frequency of themes in your project and clearly present your findings. NVivo provides a number of report templates you can use, or you can create your own report template with the help of the "Report Wizard".

Extracts

An extract allows you to export a collection of your data from NVivo in a text, Excel, or XML format. You can either choose to use one of NVivo's predesigned formats, or you can create your own with the aid of the "Extract Wizard".

Models

Models can be used to visually understand and analyze your data, to visually present your findings and/or theories, to identify emerging patterns in your project, and to provide a record of your progress.

There are two types of models:

Dynamic Model -> This type of model can be altered, you can link unlinked items, add shapes, and add project items simply by right-clicking on the Dynamic Model in the Detail View. A Dynamic Model with linked project items will change as you make changes to the items in your project in order to reflect said changes.

Static Model -> This type of model cannot be edited, it is more like a snapshot. It will not be affected by any changes you make to your project. Static Models are most useful for recording the progress and development of your ideas, theories, and project.

Create a Dynamic Model:

Select "Models" from the lower Navigation View -> Select the "Models" folder from the upper Navigation View -> Right-click in the List View area -> Select "New Model" from the drop-down menu -> Give your model a name and a brief description -> Select "OK" -> Right-click in the Detail View -> Select "Add Project Items" from the drop-down menu -> Select by checking the boxes of the project items you wish to consider visually -> Select "OK" -> In the new window, "Add Associated Data", select any other types of data you want to be considered in this model by checking their preceding boxes -> Select to either view "All Associations" of the data or choose to select certain associations by clicking "Selected Associations" -> Select "OK".

Create a Static Model:

Select "Models" from the lower Navigaton View -> Select the "Models" folder from the upper Navigation View -> Select the Dynamic Model that you wish to freeze as a Static Model -> Right-click on the Detail View of the Dynamic Model -> Select "Create As" from the drop-down menu -> Select "Create As Static Model" -> In the pop-up window give your Static Model a name and description (It is a good idea to include a date in the description) -> Select "OK".

Charts

Charts can help visualize your data in a quantitative way. You can chart different aspects (such as attribute values) of the coding, the sources, or the nodes of your NVivo project. Charts are also very easy to manipulate, you may for instance zoom in/out, rotate them, or change the type all within the "Chart" tab that will have opened on NVivo's top ribbon when you created the chart.

Bubble Charts = Show the density of data when comparing combinations of variables.

Heat Maps = Show the density of data when comparing combinations of variables and matrices.

Radar Charts = Useful for displaying direction or trend when comparing several variables.

Create a Chart:

Select "Explore" from the top NVivo ribbon -> Select "Chart" -> Select "Charts" from the drop-down menu -> The Chart Wizard will open in a pop-up window -> Step one: Select to chart either "coding", "sources", or "nodes" -> Select "Next" -> Step two: Select an option from the list to further specify the chart you would like to generate (this list will vary for "coding", "sources", and "nodes" and the box below the options will explain the purpose of each option when that option in selected) -> Select "Next" -> Step three: Continue to follow the prompts, selecting the "Chart items" and the X, Y, and Z (if needed) axes -> Select "Finish".

Or When Working within Nodes/Sources/Coding:

In the List View select the item (node, source, or coding) the you wish to chart -> Right-click -> Select "Visualize" from the drop-down menu -> Select one of the charting options that are available -> A chart will immediately open in the Detail View.

Create a Chart from an NCapture Dataset:

After you have opened an NCapture Dataset in the Detail View -> Select the vertical tab located to the far right of the Detail View labeled "Chart" -> It will open in the Detail View.

Changing the Type of Chart:

Within the "Chart" tab on the top NVivo Ribbon (which will have opened when the chart was created) -> Select the type of chart you wish to view either by selecting its picture or clicking on the down arrow and selecting a type.

Exporting a Chart:

Right click on the chart in the Detail View -> Select "Export Chart" -> Decide what location to export the chart to -> Select "Save".

Cluster Analysis Diagrams

A Cluster Analysis Diagram will allow you to analyze your data for patterns of similarities and differences in your nodes, sources, or demographic data based on attribute values. You can choose to cluster your data by word similarity, coding similarity, or attribute value similarity.

2D Cluster Map = Groups together items that are similar while separating items that are dissimilar.

3D Cluster Map = Groups together items that are similar while separating items that are dissimilar. This diagram can be rotated three-dimensionally.

Horizontal Dendrogram = Useful for comparing pairs of items. This diagram branches horizontally, clustering similar items together on the same branch and dissimilar items on different branches.

Vertical Dendrogram = Useful for comparing pairs of items. This diagram branches vertically, clustering similar items together on the same branch and dissimilar items on different branches.

Circle Graph = A graph that compares strength and weakness of similarity and dissimilarity. The items selected are located on the circle's perimeter and lines connect them other items, blue lines mean the items are similar, red lines mean the items are dissimilar, and the thicker the line is, the stronger the relationship of either similarity or dissimilarity.

Create a Cluster Analysis Diagram:

Select "Explore" from the top NVivo ribbon -> Select "Cluster Analysis" -> Select "Cluster Analysis" from the drop-down menu -> The "Cluster Analysis Wizard" will open in a pop-up window -> Step one: Select to chart either "Sources" or "Nodes" -> Select "Next" -> Step two: Select the nodes or sources you wish to be included -> Select what value you wish to cluster by, either by "word similarity", "coding similarity", or "attribute value similarity" (each option will be described in the box below when the option is selected) -> Select which Similarity Metric to use (see above) -> Select "Finish".

Create a Cluster Analysis Diagram from a Word Frequency Query:

After you have run a "Word Frequency Query" -> Select the vertical tab located to the far right of the Detail View labeled "Cluster Analysis" -> It will open in the Detail View.

Create a Cluster Analysis Diagram from an NCapture Dataset:

After you have opened an NCapture Dataset in the Detail View -> Select the vertical tab located to the far right of the Detail View labeled "Cluster Analysis" -> It will open in the Detail View.

Changing the Type of Cluster Analysis Diagram:

Within the "Cluster Analysis" tab on the top NVivo ribbon (which will have opened when the Cluster Analysis Diagram was created) -> Select the type of diagram you wish to view by either selecting its picture or clicking on the down arrow and selecting a type.

Exporting a Cluster Analysis Diagram:

Right-click on the Cluster Analysis Diagram in the Detail View -> Select "Export Diagram" -> Decide what location to export the diagram to -> Select "Save".

Tree Maps

Tree maps can make good visual aids. They can be used to view comparisons of nodes, sources, or attribute value combinations. The tree map will provide your audience with an idea of how often a certain node comes up in your set of data versus other nodes, or the quantity of different types of sources you have.

Create a Tree Map:

1. Select "Explore" from the top NVivo ribbon -> Select "Tree Map" -> Select "Tree Maps" from the drop-down menu -> The Tree Map Wizard will pop up and ask you if you’d like to map for “Sources”, “Nodes”, or “Attribute value combinations” -> Select one -> Click “Next”.

2a. "Nodes" or "Sources": The “Display items” drop-down menu will let you compare all nodes/sources or specific nodes/sources. For specific nodes/sources -> Choose “selected items” from the drop-down menu -> Click “Select” -> In the pop-window check off which items you would like to compare -> Select “Ok”.

2b. In the “Compared by” section: Choose to compare by the “number of items coded” at the nodes/sources or compare by the “number of coding references” in the nodes/sources.

3. In the “From scope items” section: Choose to use all your source items or choose “selected items” from the drop-down menu -> For specific sources click “Select” -> In the pop-up window check off which sources you’d like to pull information from -> Click “Ok”.

4. Lastly, choose to either display this information solely as different sized squares, or add color to the tree diagram -> For no color: Uncheck the box preceding “Use color to show” -> For color: Leave that box checked and choose to color code the data by either: “Number of coding references”, “Number of items coded”, or “Item colors” -> Select “Finish”.

*Tree Maps can be difficult visualizations to glean information from. For this reason, you may find it useful to select the other vertical tab at the far right of the Detail View, labeled "Summary". This will open a numerical summary of the Tree Map in the Detail View.

Create a Tree Map from a Word Frequency Query:

After you have run a "Word Frequency Query" -> Select the vertical tab located to the far right of the Detail View labeled "Tree Map" -> It will open in the Detail View.

Editing a Tree Map:

Within the "Tree Map" tab on the top of the NVivo ribbon (which will have opened when the Tree Map was created) -> You can either change the data you selected by clicking on the “Select Data” option or you may change the color scheme by clicking on the “Color Scheme” option and choosing from the drop-down menu -> The changes will appear in the Detail View.

Graphs

A graph is useful in helping you see how project items (such as sources and nodes) are connected to other selected project items, seeing the nodes that have coded a particular source, and/or visually seeing the parent and child nodes for a selected node.

Create a Graph:

Select the source(s)/node(s) you would like to graph -> Right-click -> Select "Visualize" from the drop-down menu -> Select "Graph" from the drop-down menu -> A graph will appear in the Detail View.

*Although, as with other visualizations you cannot save the graph in your NVivo project, you may convert a graph into a Dynamic Model, and save it as such.

*Graphs can also be used to follow associations.

Following Associations:

If there is an item on the graph that you wish to see the associations: Right-click on the item of the graph in the Detail View -> Select "Graph" from the drop-down menu -> The new graph will appear in the Detail View.

Convert a Graph into a Dynamic Model:

Right-click the graph -> Select "Create Model from Graph" from the drop-down menu -> In the pop-up window give the new model a name, description, and select the location within "Models" to save it in -> Select "OK".

You will be able to view the model by selecting "Models" from the Lower Navigation View and then the appropriate folder from the Upper Navigation View.

Exporting a Graph:

Right-click the graph -> Select "Export Graph" from the drop-down menu -> Decide what location to export the graph to -> Select "Save".

Tag Clouds

The Tag Cloud is an option that is available if you have ran a "Word Frequency" Query. It will show the 100 most commonly occurring words that your specific "Word Frequency" Query found. The results will appear in paragraph form and in alphabetical order. The more frequent the word, the larger and bolder it will appear.

Create a Tag Cloud:

After you have run a "Word Frequency Query" -> Select the vertical tab located to the far right of the Detail View labeled "Tag Cloud" -> It will open in the Detail View.

Word Trees

The Word Tree is an option that is available if you have ran a "Text Search" Query. It will show the results as a tree with branches representing the various contexts in which the word or phrase occurs. This may help you see associations or relationships between these words and/or phrases within your project's data. The larger the size of the font indicates its frequency (the larger the more frequent).

*The Word Tree tab is not available when you select to spread coding.

Create a Word Tree:

After you have run a "Text Search Query" -> Select the vertical tab located to the far right of the Detail View labeled "Word Tree" -> It will open in the Detail View.

Folders

The Folders option in the Lower Navigation view will display all the folders of your project in a hierarchy that mimics the structure of your NVivo Project. From here it is easy to find all the folders that comprise your project and/or locate specific project items via their folder location(s).